Two activists stormed this Saturday with banners in support of Palestine and Lebanon during the presentation of the film “The Room Next Door”, by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, at the New York film festival. As the audience booed the interruption, Almodóvar asked the organization if it was possible to give them a microphone so they could present their protest. “We’re talking about our film, but I’m giving you the microphone in case you need to say something,” the filmmaker said.
The moment was widely shared and applauded on social networks, in addition to the gesture of the filmmaker and the reaction of the two protagonists of the film, Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. The three took the stage and listened to the activists, while Swinton also added that these types of actions are something “worthy for this festival”.
“These interruptions are uncomfortable, but they are necessary and relevant to our film. Syria is the next room, Beirut, Gaza. Pedro’s film asks us not to look away,” added the actress, in statements reported by local media.
Protesters criticized Manhattan’s Lincoln Center for “facilitating illegal settlements in Palestine.”
However, the protesters continued to speak peacefully, without microphones, and were eventually removed from the room.
At another point in the presentation, Almodóvar called on world powers with veto power at the UN to stop the war in Gaza and “end this situation.” “Unfortunately, one film is never enough,” he said.
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